The benefits were adjusted based on rules for workers who earn both pension and Social Security benefits. Today, Dave is pushing for the Social Security rules that reduced his benefits to be changed. Social Security benefits are calculated using a worker's average indexed monthly earnings, and then using a formula to calculate a worker's basic benefit amount. If two-thirds of the government pension is more than the Social Security benefit, the Social Security benefit may be zero. Part of what may create that advantage is that Social Security benefits are progressive, and therefore replace a larger share of income for lower earners.

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Persons: Araya Doheny, Dave Bernstein, Bernstein, Phyllis Bernstein, Dave's, Dave, Phyllis, –, Edward Kelly, they're, Kelly, Emerson Sprick, Sprick Organizations: Getty, U.S . Postal Service, Social, Social Security, Finance, Will, New Zealand, American Postal Workers Union, GPO, International Association of Fire Fighters, Center, Budget Locations: Tampa , Florida, Australia, New, Congress